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88
INFANTILE DIARRHOEA.
giving a fatality of 5.6 per cent. Among the remaining 195 children there were 14 deaths,
equal to a fatality of 7'1 per cent. The advantages of breast-feeding are better demonstrated
by the appended tabular statement:—
Months.
Ages 0— 3— 6-10
Breast-fed—
Cases 11 12 10
Deaths 3 — —
Fatality 27.2 — —
Other Feeding—
Cases 14 28 29
Deaths 7 2 1
Fatality 50 7.1 3.4
Housing.—The 248 cases occurred in 241 homes, situated in 217 houses. In 4 instances,
2 cases were reported in the same family, multiple cases occurring in 22 houses (47 cases).
At some of the houses cases were known to occur among elder inmates, but the particulars
have not been taken out.
The percentage distribution* according to number of rooms was:—
Diarrhœa Cases. Whole Borough.
Homes of one room 30.7 14.9
„ two rooms 47.7 19.8
„ three „ 15.3 19.4
„ four „ 3.3 10.6
The larger proportion in homes of 2 rooms, as compared with homes of 1 room, is
accounted for by the smaller number of children living in the latter class of home.
Taking the usual " overcrowding " standard (an average of more than two persons per
room), it appears that :—
In 163 "overcrowded " homes, occupied by 863 persons (477 under 10), there were 170 cases
and 13 deaths, equal to a fatality of 7.6 per cent.
In 70 homes not overcrowded, occupied by 291 persons (140 under 10), there were 70 cases
and 4 deaths, equal to a fatality of 5.7 per cent.
The storey on which the home was located was noted in 233 instances. As the houses
were not uniform as to number of storeys, the following is the only useful analysis:—
In basement and on ground floor 93 homes 39.9 per cent, of total
On first floor 76 „ 32.6 „ „
On 2nd or higher floor 64 „ 27.5 „ „
That analysis may be regarded, without being too dogmatic, as affording evidence of the
advantages, qua, diarrhoea, of being above ground level, that is, farther away from the house
refuse in the dustbin and clear of the street dust, and also lends some support to the fly-theory
of the transmission of the disease.
It is significant that the Inspectors reported that provision of adequate accommodation
for the storage of food was found in 19 homes only (17.8 per cent.) of the total.
* The corresponding figures for fatal cases not reported during life are :—
Homes of 1 room 5'2 Homes of 3 rooms 26.3
„ 2 rooms 31.5 „ 4 „ 5.2